| Gemini Observatory | |||||||
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| Organization | Gemini Consortium and AURA | ||||||
| Location | Mauna Kea, Hawai'i Cerro Pachón, Chile |
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| Altitude | 4,213 m (13,822 ft) 2,722 m (8,930 ft) |
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| Established | 2000 | ||||||
| Website Gemini Observatory |
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The Gemini Observatory is an astronomical observatory consisting of two 8.1-metre (27 ft) telescopes at sites in Hawai‘i and Chile. Together, the twin Gemini telescopes provide almost complete coverage of both the northern and southern skies. They are currently among the largest and most advanced optical/infrared telescopes available to astronomers.
The Gemini telescopes were built and are operated by a consortium consisting of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. This partnership is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). The United Kingdom dropped out of the partnership in late 2007 before being re-instated again two and a half months later, but has recently announced its intention to end its role in the partnership in 2012. The Gemini Observatory has responded to this pending withdrawl by significantly reducing its operating costs, so that no new partners are required beginning in 2013.
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The Gemini Observatory's international Headquarters and Northern Operations Center is located in Hilo, Hawaii at the University of Hawaii at Hilo University Park. The Southern Operations Center is located on the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) campus in La Serena, Chile.
Together, the two telescopes cover almost all of the sky except for two small regions near the celestial poles: Gemini North cannot point north of declination +79 degrees; Gemini South cannot point south of declination -89 degrees.
Both Gemini telescopes employ a range of advanced technologies to deliver the highest quality images, including laser guide stars, adaptive optics, multi conjugate adaptive optics, and multi-object spectroscopy. In addition, the two telescopes allow very high-quality infrared observations due to the advanced protected silver coating of their mirrors, their small secondary mirrors (due to the f16 focal ratio), and advanced ventilation systems. Thanks to a high degree of networking, the Gemini telescopes can be operated remotely, and observations can be run when atmospheric conditions suit them best, reducing unnecessary travel by astronomers.
The history of the Gemini Observatory featured prominently in Giant Telescopes, a 2004 book by science historian W. Patrick McCray [1]. It details the technical and political challenges faced by scientists and engineers working to construct Gemini and other modern observatories.
It is estimated that the two telescopes cost approximately $184 million to construct, and a night on each Gemini telescope is worth about $33,000.[2]
The two 8 meter mirror blanks, each weighing over 24 short tons (22,000 kg), were fabricated from Corning's Ultra Low Expansion glass. Each blank was constructed by the fusing together of and subsequent sagging of a series of smaller hexagonal pieces. This work was performed at Corning's Canton Plant facility located in upstate New York. The blanks were then transported via ship to REOSC, located south of Paris for final grinding and polishing.
In November 2007 it was announced that the UK's STFC had proposed that, to save £4 million annually, it would aim to leave the telescope's operating consortium. At a consortium in January 2008, the conclusion was made that the UK would officially withdraw from the Gemini Partnership and the Gemini Observatory Agreement effective December 12, 2007.. This decision significantly disrupted observatory budgets, and resulted in the cancellation of at least one instrument in development at that time (the Precision Radial Velocity Spectrograph).
Since the reason for the UK breaking its part of the agreement seemed to be entirely financial, there was public outcry, including the "Save Astronomy" movement [2] which asked citizens to speak up against the astronomy budget cuts. The UK rethought their decision to withdraw from Gemini, and requested reinstatement into the agreement, and were officially welcomed back on February 27, 2008. However, in December 2009 it was announced that the UK will indeed leave the Gemini partnership in 2012, as well as terminating several other international science partnerships, due to continuing funding limitations.[3]